When I was a kid, my first ever “political” memory was watching footage of the first Gulf War. Sitting on the couch with my dad watching ABC News (with Peter Jennings), I remember seeing tracer rounds light up the Baghdad sky. Looking back, I never knew I would serve my country in Iraq sixteen years later.
There’s a special feeling that comes with knowing you served your country. Fortunately, I served my country in southern Iraq. I wasn’t in a combat role, but I did provide communications support for those who were in combat or those who were providing security for convoys. I did my part to keep my country safe and I’m proud I served.
These days, I’m disappointed with what the Democratic Congress is doing with military spending, especially the supplemental called for by President Bush to pay for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a conservative, I was disappointed that Democrats rose to power in Congress after the 2006 midterm election. In fact, upon hearing the election returns I literally lost my morning appetite. I was hopeful however, that the Democrats (with influence from moderate “Blue Dogs”) would actually keep their promise to their constituents to do everything in their power to protect the American people. Unfortunately, Pelosi, Reid, and the rest of the leftist kooks in Congress are walking a fine line between opposition to the president’s policies and full-blown treason.
The U.S. Constitution defines treason as “levying war against them [The United States], or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.” With their pandering to the far-left socialists in this country and spouting defeatist rhetoric, the Democratic leaders are dangerously close to treason as defined by the U.S. Constitution. By continuing to play politics with war appropriations bills that they know President Bush will veto, Democrats are in fact affecting America’s war-fighting capability and helping our enemies gain strength. Terrorists may never be able to defeat America’s military capabilities, but they know that by breaking public support for the war effort, Al Qaeda and other organizations will gain the upper hand just as the communists did in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
I am confident any traction the Democratic Party gained in national security during the 2006 election season has been absolutely wasted by pandering to the far-left. If Democrats in Congress somehow force U.S. troops to “redeploy” from Iraq, not only will Iraq erupt into chaos, but the Democratic Party will be finished as a legitimate political party. For the safety of the troops, the United States, and the Middle East, let us pray the Democrats will wise up to their ways and be willing to compromise with the commander-in-chief.